Abortions Based On ‘Gender, Race, or Disability’ Banned in Kentucky — Libs Are SUING

A recently passed bill by the Kentucky legislature, which bans abortion procedures if a patient is seeking to abort due to the fetus’ “sex, race, color, national origin, or disability,” is now facing a lawsuit from the American Civil Liberties Union.

The Republican majority in the chamber passed the bill by a vote of 32 to 4, sending it to the desk of Republican pro-life Governor Matt Bevin, the Associated Press reports.

The ACLU took to Twitter to criticize the bill’s passage and said they would immediately be filing legal action against it.

“Kentucky just passed a ban on abortion based on the reason a person might need one,” the ACLU said. “The only person who decides whether you need an abortion should be you. We are suing immediately.”

The Kentucky bill, HB 5, would ban abortions that are sought on the basis of the fetus’ “sex, race, color, national origin, or disability.” Supporters often refer to the measure as a “eugenics bill.”

Doctors would lose their license if they were to flout the ban. Bevin, who has called himself the “most pro-life governor in America,” is expected to sign it into law.

The Supreme Court is considering hearing a challenge to a law in Indiana that is similar to the Kentucky bill. It would be the first such abortion case to receive a Supreme Court hearing under the new, conservative-leaning makeup of the bench with the additions of Justices Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh.

“We will see the state of Kentucky in court (again) after they attempt to ban abortion (again)” the ACLU of Kentucky said in a tweet concerning the lawsuit.

And, “In Kentucky, we are proud to be leading the fight to ensure #ProLife protections for the most vulnerable among us!”

The Associated Press adds:

Bevin’s running mate in his re-election bid this year, Sen. Ralph Alvarado, gave the opening remarks in support of the measure during the Senate debate Wednesday.

“House Bill 5 recognizes and affirms that all human life has intrinsic value,” Alvarado said. “House Bill 5 would hold the abortionists accountable for performing an abortion for a specific reason — because the baby is a boy or girl, because the baby is a particular race or because they might be born with a known or suspected disability.”

As the Washington Examiner also reports, the Kentucky legislature is also considering other ways to toughen their stance on abortion.

“Lawmakers are considering a bill that would ban abortion when a heartbeat can be detected, which is six to eight weeks into a pregnancy,” the Washington Examiner reports. “Another bill would outlaw all abortions if the Supreme Court overturns Roe, a move that would give states the authority to decide whether abortion will be illegal or legal within their boundaries.”